Jaguar Land Rover: Indian-owned British cars, now Made-in-China

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) and Chery Automobile Company (CAC), the British and Chinese carmakers, today announced in a media statement that the two have formally laid the foundation stone for their new manufacturing facility in the People’s Republic of China.

The two companies recently received formal approval from the Chinese Government for their joint venture and now have a licence to manufacture Jaguar Land Rover vehicles and new models for a partnership brand in China.

JLR is a wholly-owned subsidiary of India’s Tata Motors, and is the largest manufacturer of premium vehicles in the UK. JLR and CAC will now accelerate plans to build a joint venture manufacturing plant in Changshu, near Shanghai, as part of a RMB10.9bn (Dh6.42bn) investment that will also include a new research and development centre and engine production facility.

The project includes the creation of a new partnership brand to assemble models tailored specifically for the Chinese market, including the marketing and distribution.

The benefits of the joint venture to China include investment, job creation, advanced technology and low carbon solutions. The joint venture will blend together the heritage and experience of luxury premium vehicle manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover with the intricate knowledge and understanding of Chinese customers evident at Chery.

The JV underlines a firm commitment from both companies to the world’s largest car market for the long term future, and the equal partnership will be called Chery Jaguar Land Rover Automotive Company.

In a joint statement, at today’s press conference in Jiangsu, Dr. Ralf Speth, Jaguar Land Rover CEO, and Yin Tongyao, Chairman and CEO of Chery Automobile, said: “We are delighted to have reached this milestone, achieved thanks to the understanding and foresight of the Chinese authorities and we want to thank them for recognising the potential of our joint venture in the fast-growing Chinese market.

“Together, we will now begin working in close collaboration on our partnership plans to harness the capabilities of our respective companies, to produce relevant, advanced models for Chinese consumers.”

In addition to established vehicles, the partnership will also produce models for a domestic brand tailored specifically to local customer demand. Both companies are committed to investing heavily into product innovation and advanced technologies using a new Research and Development Centre, more details of which will be released at a later date.

The two companies plan to complete the Changshu facility in Jiangsu province during 2014. Construction of a new engine plant for production of fuel efficient engines is also part of the JV partnership agreement.

The confidence of Chery’s partnership with Jaguar Land Rover follows rapid expansion of the Jaguar and Land Rover brands in China, where sales rose 80 per cent in the first 10 months to October 2012. In the 2011 calendar year, Jaguar Land Rover saw sales increase more than 60 per cent, driven mainly by the Jaguar XJ and XF models, and strong demand for the fuel-efficient Range Rover Evoque.

Chery, the largest Chinese car exporter and one of the country’s most productive automotive manufacturers, has 15 years’ experience in the automobile industry.

The partnership with Jaguar Land Rover signals the start of international expansion and strategic development for Chery Automobile.

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